Celebs Who Narrowly Escaped The 9/11 Attacks

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Many famous names have shared how a twist of timing kept them out of harm’s way on September 11, 2001. These close calls range from missed flights to delayed meetings and simple last-minute detours that changed everything. Here are notable stories that show how chance and circumstance intersected with a tragic day in history.

Seth MacFarlane

The ‘Family Guy’ creator was booked on American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles that morning. A night out and a mix-up with his departure time caused him to arrive after the gate had closed. He rebooked for later, then learned at the airport that Flight 11 had struck the North Tower. He has often described the miss as a matter of minutes.

Mark Wahlberg

The actor originally planned to fly on Flight 11 but changed his itinerary shortly before the trip. He and friends decided to travel to the Toronto film festival instead of Los Angeles. That switch removed him from the doomed flight leaving Logan Airport. He later apologized for comments he made about what he might have done on board.

Sarah Ferguson

The Duchess of York had an early appointment at the World Trade Center for her charity that was based there. A morning interview and subsequent delays kept her from reaching the building before the attacks. Her office space inside the complex was destroyed. She later spoke publicly about the staff and the little red mascot doll linked with her charity that was recovered from the debris.

Michael Jackson

Family accounts state the singer was due at a morning meeting high in the World Trade Center. After a late night with relatives, he overslept and never made it to the towers. He later credited the late-night conversation with keeping him away from the site. The story has been repeated in interviews and books by his family members.

Patti Austin

The Grammy-winning vocalist had a ticket for United Flight 93. A medical emergency involving her mother prompted her to change plans and travel earlier. That schedule change removed her from the flight that went down in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to retake the aircraft. She has spoken about the decision as life-saving.

Michael Lomonaco

The executive chef and director of ‘Windows on the World’ typically arrived early at the restaurant atop the North Tower. On September 11 he stopped in the concourse to get his eyeglasses repaired, keeping him off the 106th and 107th floors when the first plane hit. His team and many regular staffers were already upstairs. He later detailed how the errand kept him out of the building at the critical moment.

Gwyneth Paltrow

The actress was driving in Manhattan when a chance sidewalk encounter delayed a commuter headed to the World Trade Center. The brief slowdown caused the woman to miss her usual train and arrive after the first impact. Paltrow later connected with her to acknowledge the small moment that changed the day’s outcome. The woman has publicly credited that delay with saving her life.

Ian Thorpe

The Australian Olympic swimmer planned to visit the observation deck that morning. He realized he had left his camera at his hotel and doubled back to retrieve it. While he was away from Lower Manhattan, the first aircraft struck the towers. He later described how the forgotten item kept him from being at the site.

Gabourey Sidibe

Years before her breakout role, the future actress was a student with a class scheduled near the World Trade Center. She overslept and learned about the attacks after turning on the television. Later she said the building where her class met was damaged in the collapse. Missing that morning’s class kept her out of the area.

Jackie Chan

The action star was set to film scenes for an action comedy that included shots on top of the World Trade Center. Script delays and scheduling changes canceled the planned shoot. As a result he was not on the roof or in the complex when the attacks occurred. The project was later shelved.

Julie Stoffer

The ‘Real World: New Orleans’ alum had booked a seat on American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles. A change in her personal plans led her to cancel the trip. That decision removed her from the morning departure that hit the North Tower. She later shared how the choice kept her off the flight.

Rob Lowe

The actor traveled on a Washington to Los Angeles flight in late August 2001 that was later identified as a practice run used by some of the hijackers. At the time he noticed nothing unusual. In the days after the attacks he learned about the connection from investigators. He has spoken about the realization and its timing.

James Woods

The actor reported a pre-attack flight in August 2001 where several passengers behaved in a way that alarmed him. He raised his concerns with the crew and later with federal authorities. After 9/11 he learned that some of those men were linked to the hijackings. His account has been cited as an early warning that only made sense in hindsight.

Paul McCartney

The musician was seated on a plane at JFK preparing for takeoff on the morning of the attacks. When airspace was shut down his flight returned to the gate and he remained in New York. From the tarmac he could see smoke rising from Lower Manhattan. He later helped organize a large benefit concert for first responders and victims’ families.

If you remember other close calls or personal stories from that day, share them in the comments so we can add more voices to this history.

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